Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our strategic vision is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people and the power of their voices to bring about change. We provide individual relationship based, lifelong independent advocacy and a range of connection and participation opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and others to broaden understanding and challenge the stigma experienced by Care Experienced people. We create opportunities for people with lived experience of care to influence policy makers, leaders, and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape legislation, policy, and practice. We do this collaboratively to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

Purpose of the Post

The Advocacy and Participation Manager will oversee the development of our independent advocacy services in the North East region, including our lifelong advocacy offering, and the engagement and empowerment of Care Experienced people through participation opportunities.

This role oversees work that is crucial in what it does for Care Experienced people, that is further validated by The Promise’s commitment to independent and lifelong advocacy, which will have more prominence as The Promise implementation develops.

This role will contribute to Who Cares? Scotland’s leadership team and will be expected to share the learning of this work positively and proactively across the organisation. All work will provide a robust evidence base to support the evolvement of this work nationally.

The right candidate will therefore be capable of forming positive relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds, will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, and be adaptable to a wide range of contexts. With experience managing budgets and performance targets, as well as reporting internally and to key stakeholders, you will also be skilled at supervising and supporting the work of staff and volunteers. Some travel, as well as some evening and weekend work, is required due to the remit of the post.

You will have a proven record of working collaboratively with partners successfully and will be committed to children’s rights, inclusive working, and equal opportunities. You believe that all people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity.

For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Caroline Richardson, Director of Advocacy and Participation at crichardson@whocaresscotland.org.

For more information, please download the job description and person specification below.

About Us

Tiny Changes is Scotland’s first national young people’s mental health charity. We co-produce and run projects with young leaders that help young minds feel better. The charity was set up originally by the family of Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison, who took his own life in 2018. We believe that Scotland’s young people deserve great mental health, and we believe in their insight and innovation to make this possible. We exist to nurture the talent of young people to find creative solutions that work for them.

We are looking for people to join our Board of Trustees who have the experience and/or skills to step into an office bearer role either in 2027 or after a period of finding your feet on the Board - Secretary, Chair, or Treasurer. We are also looking for young trustees under 30, with or without office bearer experience. Trustees are responsible for the overall control and governance of the organisation. This is an exciting leadership opportunity to join a small Scottish charity and help improve its income and impact.

About You

You have knowledge and experience to bring to the Tiny Changes Board that you are confident will improve the sustainability and strategic direction of this small charity. You know the difference between governance and operations, and how to make the most of the relatively small amount of time you likely have to offer as a voluntary trustee. You have a can-do attitude and one of your strengths is that you know which questions to ask, and what level of risk to take with decisions and finances, at the right time.

We’re looking for Trustees who:

• Share our values – Hopeful, Brave, Honest, Kind

• Are committed to our vision and goals

• Are under 30

• Are any age and have experience and skills suited to becoming a Secretary, Treasurer or Chair

• Have knowledge of and interest in mental health issues and systemic inequalities affecting children and young people in Scotland

• Bring a different perspective to the work of the trustees and leadership team

• Are self reflective and confident at asking questions or contributing to high level decision making

• Are able to commit the charity commission recommended approx. 2 hours per month, and more hours to prep for Board meetings, and as an office bearer

We are interested in hearing from people with skills in organisational leadership at chief executive or director level, financial management, fundraising and related marketing, equalities, HR and/or legal, youth-led movements and creative co-production, or non-clinical young people’s mental health services.

We particularly welcome applications from the following groups:

• Young people under 30

• Disabled people

• Neurodiverse people

• People with experience of caring roles

• Care experienced people

• People from minority ethnic communities

• Asylum seekers or refugees

• People who identify as any gender that’s not cisgender

• People who identify as LGBTQIA+

• People from gypsy traveller communities

• People from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds

Job Overview

Regen:FX Youth Trust is recruiting a Youth Navigator to join The GIVIT Youth Recovery Service. This role is central to delivering intensive, relationship-based support to young people aged 13–25 affected by their own alcohol and substance use.

You will build strong, trusting relationships, manage a caseload and support young people to overcome barriers and achieve meaningful outcomes in their recovery journey.

Candidate Information

Joining Regen:FX Youth Trust means joining an organisation that values relationships over processes, compassion over judgement and learning over blame.

You will receive a comprehensive induction, regular supervision and opportunities for reflective practice, alongside ongoing professional development and specialist training in youth work, substance use and trauma-informed practice.

We are looking for a confident and reflective practitioner who combines strong professional knowledge with a commitment to continuous learning, and who brings warmth, authenticity and compassion to their work with young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one and group-based support to young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Build therapeutic, trust-based relationships
• Manage and maintain a small but complex caseload
• Develop Personal Recovery Support Plans and risk assessments
• Deliver harm reduction, brief interventions and motivational support
• Work collaboratively with young people to identify, pursue and achieve realistic, person-centered goals, including improved access to education, employment and health services
• Work collaboratively with partners and advocate for young people
• Maintain accurate records.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the service through active participation in regular team meetings, CPD and Support and Development sessions.

Person Specification

Essential:

Experience & Knowledge

• Understanding of problematic drug & alcohol use and experience of working within a similar field.
• Competent written and verbal communication skills and confident with IT
• Youth Work background or experience in working with young people.
• Driving licence and access to transport.

Desirable:

• Experience of intense one to one support and groupwork.
• Lived experience of addiction and a minimum of two years in sustained recovery
• Experience of working within a homeless setting
• Working with high tariff families and young people.
• Knowledge of drug legislations in Scotland.
• Experience of supporting and promoting a specialist service with participants, communities, and partners

Personal Qualities:

• Passion for working with young people, particularly with problematic substance use issues.
• Ability to communicate complex information to individuals and groups in a way that is easily understood.
• Holistic and therapeutic approach to working.
• Ability to communicate at all levels effectively.
• Good observational and analytical skills.
• Ability to motivate and enthuse others.
• Personal commitment to making activities equally accessible and appropriate to the diverse needs of young people.
• Approachable and non-judgemental.
• Ability to work under pressure

Values & Approach

We are interested in who you are as much as what you know. If you believe people deserve respect even on their hardest days and you bring empathy, curiosity and authenticity to your work, we want to hear from you.

Other Information

This is a 7-day service including some evenings and occasional weekend. Driving licence and access to a car is essential.

Job Overview

Regen:FX Youth Trust is recruiting a Care Experienced Youth Navigator to join The GIVIT Youth Recovery Service. This role is central to delivering intensive, relationship-based support to young people who have experience of being in the care system aged 13–25 affected by their own alcohol and substance use.

You will build strong, trusting relationships, manage a caseload and support young people to overcome barriers and achieve meaningful outcomes in their recovery journey.

Candidate Information

Joining Regen:FX Youth Trust means joining an organisation that values relationships over processes, compassion over judgement and learning over blame.

You will receive a comprehensive induction, regular supervision and opportunities for reflective practice, alongside ongoing professional development and specialist training in youth work, substance use and trauma-informed practice.

We are looking for a confident and reflective practitioner who combines strong professional knowledge with a commitment to continuous learning, and who brings warmth, authenticity and compassion to their work with young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one and group-based support to care experienced young people.
• Build trust-based relationships
• Manage and maintain a small but complex caseload
• Develop Personal Recovery Support Plans and Risk Assessments
• Deliver Harm Reduction, Brief interventions and motivational support
• Work collaboratively with young people to identify, pursue and achieve realistic, person-cantered goals.
• Work collaboratively with partners and advocate for young people in line with The Charter of Rights for People affected by Substance Use and The Standards for Young People.
• Maintain accurate records.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the service through active participation in regular team meetings, CPD and Support and Development sessions.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Experience & Knowledge

• Understanding of problematic alcohol & drug use and experience of working within a similar field.
• Competent written and verbal communication skills and confident with IT
• Recovery or Youth Work background or experience in working with young people.
• Driving licence and access to transport.

Desirable:

• Experience of intense one to one support and groupwork.
• Lived experience of addiction and a minimum of two years in sustained recovery
• Experience of working within a care setting or with young people who have experience of being in care.
• Working with high tariff young people.
• Knowledge of drug legislations in Scotland.
• Experience of supporting and promoting a specialist service with participants, communities, and partners.

Personal Qualities:

• Passion for working with young people, particularly with problematic substance use issues.
• Ability to communicate complex information to individuals and groups in a way that is easily understood.
• Holistic and therapeutic approach to working.
• Ability to communicate at all levels effectively.
• Good observational and analytical skills.
• Ability to motivate and enthuse others.
• Personal commitment to making activities equally accessible and appropriate to the diverse needs of young people.
• Approachable and non-judgemental.
• Ability to work under pressure

Values & Approach

We are interested in who you are as much as what you know. If you believe people deserve respect even on their hardest days and you bring empathy, curiosity and authenticity to your work, we want to hear from you.

Other Information

This is a 7-day service some evenings and occasional weekends. Driving licence and access to a car is essential.

We require Sessional Staff for The GIVIT Youth Recovery Project. Sessional Youth Navigators will support young people (13 – 25yrs) affected by problematic alcohol and drug use. They will use a flexible outreach and wrap-around support approach with all participants.

Sessional Youth Navigators will offer practical and emotional support to help young people identify and overcome barriers which prevent them from achieving their goals. Our Navigators should primarily have a youth focused background, with an excellent understanding of alcohol & drug issues to support their practice.

Sessional Youth Navigators will build relationship-based support, provide face to face support and assist with groupwork interventions. Working alongside participants, the Navigator will develop a Personal Recovery Support Plan and risk assessment for each individual that will ensure a clear pathway to the young person’s chosen treatment/recovery initiatives.

As part of a multi-disciplinary team the Sessional Youth Navigator will have the knowledge and connections to present a wider range of positive opportunities for young people.

Successful applicants should have experience of working with young people and or addiction or recovery services.

JOB INFORMATION

Organisation Profile:

Regen:fx Youth Trust is a registered charity established in 2007. We work in partnership to develop and deliver a co-ordinated Youth Diversion Programme throughout South Lanarkshire for disadvantaged young people between the ages of 8 – 25yrs. Please check out our website regenfxyouthtrust.org.

Partners in Advocacy has established itself as one of Scotland's leading providers of independent advocacy, delivering exceptional advocacy services since 1998.

We are thrilled to present a wonderful opportunity within our children’s advocacy service nationwide throughout Scotland- “My Rights, My Say”. As an independent advocacy worker, you will have the privilege of providing one-to-one independent advocacy to children and young people with additional support needs who are age 12 to 15 and support them to exercise their rights within education. Through this role, you will ensure that their voices are heard, enabling them to make informed choices, protect their rights and have a meaningful impact on decisions that affect their education and lives.

Please note that although this post is advertised as hybrid, the successful candidate will work from home or office if preferred with the need to travel to meet advocacy partners and as this is a nationwide service this could mean travel at times to all areas of Scotland.

Applicants should also hold a current driving licence and have access to a roadworthy vehicle for work use.

We strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you believe your skills, experience, and expertise align with the criteria outlined in the person specification, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please complete the application form, ensuring that you provide examples of how your knowledge and experience fulfil each aspect of the person specification.

Partners in Advocacy takes pride in being a Disability Confident Employer, fully committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment.

This is a unique opportunity to join a growing and well-established charity, to work as part of an inclusive, supportive team culture and to make a real, often life-changing difference in the lives of our participants. Our work is meaningful, varied and challenging, and in return, you will be able to contribute to the organisation’s strategy and direction, have opportunities for self-development and training and benefit from our comprehensive staff support package.

Venture Scotland offers a long-term, outdoor-based personal development programme which empowers young people aged 16-30, and people in addiction recovery, who face complex and difficult challenges in their lives, to create and sustain change.

We focus on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our participants, working with them both in group and 1-2-1 settings, to make lasting changes in their lives and help them play a positive role in their communities.

We are seeking an Outreach and Support Worker who identifies with our values of Trust, Respect, Belonging, Empowering and Compassion to work alongside our partners Move On and Elevate, to recruit and support a diverse range of people from the Glasgow recovery community into and through our Venture On To Recovery programmes.

This role will include building on our existing network of referral partners working with young people aged 16-30, to allow us, in the future, to recruit and support a diverse range of people into and through our young people’s programmes and delivering our Next Steps programme to support young people into positive destinations.

The role will also include building a network of local referrers, public speaking to interested groups, staff teams and funders, presenting our programmes in engaging and creative ways to people interested in joining our programmes and supporting them on their journey with Venture Scotland and beyond. You’ll also get a chance to get out and experience our outdoor activities alongside our groups.

Do you want to work in a supportive team who really care about the people we are helping? Do you want to work in an organisation who listens, values everyone’s views and cares about the health and wellbeing of their staff? Do you understand the transformative effect of the outdoors? Are you passionate about #ChangingLivesOutdoors?

This role is considered ‘regulated work’ as it involves activities with both children and protected adults. Under our safeguarding policy, this role will require a PVG.

If you are applying for this role you need to prove that you have the right to live and work in the UK. If you do not possess this right, then your application will not be considered.

**Please note - Unfortunately, we are not able to support sponsorship to work in the UK at this time**

Can Do:

We are an East Lothian based charity (SC049855) working to reduce social isolation experienced by children and young people with disabilities. Since 1982, we have been delivering school holiday playschemes and term-time youth clubs offering regular social opportunities, for young people with a wide range of disabilities, including those with severe and complex needs focusing on promoting fun, friendship and adventure. In addition, we offer a robust volunteering programme creating up to 50 opportunities each year. The voice of our members is central to our work, with our Board of parent/carer representatives meeting regularly throughout the year.

Working Pattern:

This post is contracted at 28 hours per week, worked Monday to Thursday. In addition, you will work an extra 7 hours every fortnight to support evening Youth Club sessions (3.5 hours on a Tuesday and 3.5 hours on a Thursday) during East Lothian school term times.

During school holiday periods (approximately 9 weeks per year, including Easter, Summer and October holidays), your hours will increase to 35 hours per week over 4 days to support the delivery of additional direct services and activities for children and young people.

This is a varied role which includes travel throughout East Lothian. A driving license and access to your own vehicle is required. The role is offered on a flexible working arrangement to support a healthy work-life balance. There is expectation that the hours will be split between the charity office (North Berwick), home/school visits, meetings, training, induction and working from home. There may be the requirement to work evenings or weekend on occasions.

When services are in operation (evening Youth Clubs and school holiday Playschemes) your working hours will be fully centre based. You will be based at either:

• Sandersons Wynd Primary School, Tranent
• Meadowpark School, Victoria Road, Haddington
• North Berwick Community Centre, 8 Law Road North Berwick, EH29 4PN

This will be discussed further during recruitment.

What We Offer:

• Salary of £34,600 to £35,300 per annum.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Meaningful and rewarding work supporting disabled children and young people.
• Opportunity to shape and develop services
• Real Living Wage Employer.
• Supportive and values-led team environment.

Additional Information:

The successful candidate will be required to:

• Undertake a PVG Scheme check.
• Register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
• Provide references, including from their current employer.

Can Do is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all

sections of the community.

The Role & Responsibilities:

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Service Co-ordinator who is responsible for coordinating and delivering services that support disabled children, young people, and their families. The post holder will act as a key point of contact, ensuring families receive appropriate information, guidance, and access to support programmes. They will work collaboratively with families, staff, volunteers, statutory services, and partner organisations to promote inclusion, wellbeing, and positive outcomes for children and young people.

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations ofThe Promiseand secure positive change.

This role offers the opportunity to work directly with children and young people with experience of care. The Advocacy & Participation Worker will provide individual relationship-based advocacy support and will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team, supporting young people from across the Western Isles to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard.

In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy, children’s rights, and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes. In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.

The role will also include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people, including providing engagement and participation opportunities, both locally and nationally.

The post holder will raise awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services to children, young people, professionals, third sector partners and carers.

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt your approach to a wide range of contexts. Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you will prioritize and meet deadlines. You will take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative changes happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You will have demonstrable knowledge of the current structures, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland.

You will be flexible in your approach, be able to work occasional evening and weekends (with prior agreement), and have a full driving license, access to own transport and business insurance.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Leanne Murdoch, our Advocacy and Participation Manager at lmurdoch@whocaresscotland.org.